Building construction



Sept. 3,. 1935. M, w. THMPsoN 2,013,367

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed-April 29, 1955 2 sheets-shed 1 m W 3 w im Se'pt. 3, 1935. M, w. THoMPsoN 2,013,367

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 3, 1935 n CONSTRUCTIQN 'Milton W. Thompson, Atlanta, Ga.

application Aprirzs, 1933, serial No. 668,654' iclaim. (o1. 'J2-so) This invention relates to building constructions. There has been a substantial trend` in'recent years toward the development of relatively low priced'homes, and'considerable research work has -been done toward the end that both labor and material costs might be reduced; As is well known,

the cost of material involved in the building of a home is relatively high regardless of the material used, and the final cost to the producer is lgreatly vincreased bythe amount ofv skilled labor required in the erection of a home.- t

An important object of the present invention is to provide a building construction which is particularly adapted for thebuilding of relatively low priced homes wherein there is a substantial saving effected inthe cost of both labor and'ma- A further object of the invention is to provide a building construction wherein the majority of the wall forming material is relatively cheap and need not be ofthe usual structural strength, but wherein no strength is sacrificed in the finished building.

`A further object is to provide a building structure which is capable of erection with the use of a minimum amount of skilled labor, thus effect? Y ing avsubstantial saving in labor costs.

v'A further object is to provide a' wall structure y for buildings made up largely ofvfiller blocks which maybe assembled by unskilled labor without the .use of mortar, and wherein the llerblocks 'are suitably tied together andthe roof structure adequately supported by means of structural columns poured at spaced points within the filler blocks.

A further object is tol provide a structure of the character referred to wherein adequate ventilation for the rooms of thepbuilding is provided through the walls thereof, and wherein the ventilating means operates to reduce radiation through the walls of the building to maintain the interior of the buildingfin a` relatively cool condition dur- -A further object is to provide a structure of the Acharacter indicated wherein lthe ventilating means is capable of operation in connection with the roof of the building to `cool the roof structure and further assist in maintaining the interior of the-building in cool condition.

A further object is to provide a building structure having wall passages capable of use for ventilating the building in the manner referred to, i and equally applicable in connection with air conditioning means for the building or for use with a hot air or other heating system.

' A further object is to provide a wall structure opening, and,

formed of a plurality of filler blocks having vertical openings therethrough arranged in vertical alinement throughout the height of the wall, and to pour concrete or similar columns in certain of the vertical. openings to provide adequate sup# porting means for the roof structure, the remaining vertical openings of the wall structure being free for ventilation, air conditioning or heating.

In the drawings I have shown several embodil ments of the invention. In this showing, Y

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a portion of a one story building, parts being broken away,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one corner portion ofthe building, f

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of the building looking from the outside thereof, parts being broken away, and

parts being shown in section,

Figure 4 is a similar view looking from the inside of. the building, V,

Figure 5y is a horizontal sectional view through one corner portion of the building wall, I

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the' fillerv blocks Vshowing an insert therein adapted to be removed to provide a Ventilating ,Figure "I is a similar view showing an insert in the block adapted to'be removed to form a ventilating outlet opening at the upper portion of. the wall. v

Referring to the drawings, the `numeral I0 designates the base `structure as a whole comprising a floor slab Il and integral outside and inside footings -|2 and I3. The basestructure is u I poured as a unit from a suitable cement mixture,

the ground being excavated as at Il to receive the poured mixture. It will become apparent that the base structure may be the floor-of the cellar or the first oor of the building, and in the present instance the base structure has been shown as forming the first oor of the building.

After the base structure has been laid out and completed, outside and inside walls I5 and Il respectively are erected thereon. Each oi' these walls is formed of a plurality of preferably staggered blocks I 1 each of -which is shown in the' `present instance as being rectangular and formed `with a pair of vertical openings I8 therethrough separated by a web I9. It is wholly unnecessary that mortar be employed in the placing of the blocks, and in the interest of economy it is `pre- ,ferred that the blocks be stacked in the manner referred to with the vertical openings of the suc cessive blocks in registration'` throughout 4the height of the wall. It will become apparent that the blocks il are filler blocks which need not in themselves possess ythe structural strength demanded of poured concrete walls dr walls formed of the usual cement blocks. This being the case, further economy in construction is effected by employing blocks Il formed of a lean cement mixture, while it is entirely practicable to form` the blocks of even cheaper material, such as lime and sand preferably with a small amount of cement added. The present invention is of such a nature as to permit the manufacture of theblocks economically from relatively cheap cementitious mixtures, but it will become apparent that the invention is not limited in any way to the particular materials from which the blocks are formed. i

'I'he lowermostrow of blocks of onefhyall or all of the walls are formed in the manner illustrated in Figure 6. All of the blocks may be made in any suitable machine, preferably oneA which is capable of making the blocks on the building site, such as the machine illustrated in Patent No. 1,072,253. Most of the blocks forming the walls are made in the manner indicated, but the particular block illustrated in Figure 5 is .formed with a core block 20 placed in the mold and adapted to be removed from the block after itis formed. Such a block forms the lower row of blocks either for one wall or for all of thev walls in the building, and the space left by the removal of the wooden core block 20 leaves an opening 2| -at the lower edgeof the block as illustrated in Figure 1. Such opening provides a Ventilating opening communicatingl between the bottom of any room or rooms of the house and the registering openings I8 of the successive rows of blocks Il, except that certain of the vertical wall openings are utilized for another purpose to be described.

The uppermost row of blocks for "any wall or to and including the blocks I1 which have the openings 23 therein, certain of the vertical wall openings are filed with a cement mixture, either with or without reinforcing rneans,'as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. The filling of certain of the openings' thus provides supporting columns having the necessary structural strength to support the roof or the second floor of the building.

It is not at all necessary that all ofthe wall openings be filled, and it is preferred that some be left open for ventilation and other purposes, as will become apparent. In practice it is preferred that the three wall openings adjacent each corner oi' the building be filled to provide adequate corner columns as shown in Figure 5 and illustrated by the numeral 2l. Inwardly of the corners, certain -other wall openings are similarly filled to provide supporting columns 25.

After the supporting columns 24 and 25 have been poured and have set, a roof` beam 26 is poured along the tops of the interior and exterior wells as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. These beams are of the usual type and may be these openings. j ing will be entirely iiush except for the provision provided with suitablereinforcement if desired. The beams are poured by placing suitable simple forms against opposite faces of the walls, and after the beams have sufrlciently hardened, the

roof structure is placed in position. v

A portion of the roof structure is formed of the blocks il placed in position as tiles somewhat after the manner of present building constructions.

Suitable supporting boards are spaced at the proper height and are supported by vertical posts, l0

whereupon the blocks Il are arranged in parallel rows spaced from each other as indicated in Figures 3 and 4. The blocks I1 when used as roof tiles are placed in registering relationship instead of being staggered as inthe formation' l5 of the walls, as will be apparent, and all of the tiles preferablyl are arranged with their openings IB running in the same direction. The tiles at theA ends of the rows are formed in a special` manner for a purpose to bejdescribed. In form- 9 ing such special tiles, a core strip similar to the strip 20 is employed except that it is spaced from the edge of the block whereby the resultant block or tile is provided with -an opening 2l, and

accordingly an upward outlet is provided for 35 cach series of openings i8 in the rows of roof tiles.

After the roof tiles have been placed in position in the manner referred to, a parapet wall 28 is constructed around thevbuilding over the walls 0.

i5. Suitable reinforcing rods 29 4are then arranged near the bottoms of the spaces between the rows of tiles, whereupon concrete is poured over the roof tiles and between the tiles to form arooi' slab 30 and rafters 3i. These rafters extend u through opposite walls and terminate iiush with the outer surfaces thereof as indicated in Figure 3. The adjacent faces of the blocks forming the roof tiles are closed as at32 by a cementitious filler preferably placed in position merely by plac- 4b" ing the blocks which have the openings 2l therein upon a flat surface with the openings I8 vertically arranged and pouring a cement mixture into Thus the outer wall of the buildof the Ventilating openings 23.

'I'he parapet wall .28 is formed by stacking the blocks I l in staggered relation as shown in" Figures 3 and 4 with the vertical openings I8 in registration, thus forming passages communicat- 6o' ing/ with the passages o f the roof tiles through y the openings Il. A cap33 surrounds-the ytop of the parapei;l wall, and the upper row ofblocks t il of the parapet wall are formedin the manner shown in Figure 7 to provide ventilatingopenings 65" 34 preferably extending through they inner faces of the wall. The horizontal passages through the roof tiles preferably communicatewith the interior of the room to provide meansefor the'passpaced from theA outer walls I5, a row of the roof tiles parallel to the inner wall i6 may be formed sage of air therethrough. For example, at points in the mannerjndicated in Figure `6 to providel passages or openings 35 communicating between passages through the roof tiles.`

The openings and passageS which communicate between the interior of the building and the atmosphere may be suitably controlled according to weather conditions.

the interior of the buuding and the horizontal et.

VFor example, the openings 2| and 35' may be provided with cover plates or strips 36 and 3l respectively. Thesestrips are removable to provide summer ventilation and may be placed in closed position to preventV air circulation in winter weather in the colder climates.

aorase'zf The closure strips needL Il extend l thm-mut theflengtfh or width of la .room but may befr'nade l ,in short sections covering'twoor moreopenings 2l orv35.. For,example,the,s'tripu` in 2 has been illustrated as lliellg'f ars'llltable length for closlngthe lower endsof three of the vertical vwall passages. 'The wall passages' through the interior .wall orl walls Il may be utilized for desired purpose. Pipes 38 may extend into the` vertical passages of thewall I6 and may com- -municate with anair conditioning apparatus from This construction also may be utilized for heating the building by connecting the pipes 38 to a 'suitable heating system and reversing the movement ofthe air-to drawair into the vertical spaces of the interior wall through the-openings 23, the

` heated air being discharged directly into the interior` of the building, as will be apparent.

' structure in the manner'referred to, th

that the outer surfaces of the walls be stuccoed to suitably waterproof the joints between ,thev

r blocks l1, since these'blocks preferably are not v' present invention providesv aclass of Adwelling which is not available'under ordinary building mortared. Interior wall faces may be and painted orpapered as desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing thatthe plastered systems. The present system is particularly useu ful in providing one-story structures with or with-A out cellars, and such a structure has been illusi In lconstructing the trated in the drawings. house, the plan is laid out on the site, whereupon the ground is excavated to provide for theiioor slab Hand footings i4. The.cement mixture fdr i the floor structure is mixed and poured, and in the meantime a simple relatively cheap block making machine such as the machinedlsclosed in Patent N o. 1,072,253 may be Aon' the Asite `ior making the blocks l1. *Such*` system eliminates the necessity forja block making factory and requires little investment 'in equipment, n and many of the blocks may be made in the course of thevdays work. 1

The blocks are preferably made of a lean cement mixture to provide economy in material costs, although it will,be apparent'that other Vhardtobe tarea, it wm be mixtures such as lime and sand'may be emplyed since the blocks Il act purely as filler blocks and as forms for the supporting columns 24 and 25.'

Each block may be made in a shortperiod of time merely by lling the mold, successively i lifting and dropping each end of the mold toY impact the'material therein to jform av harder block thanI can besecured yby the mere pouring of the cement, and after the block isso formed, it-is, .firm enough to be immediately removed from the mold. The blocks made eachday are sufficiently walls of 'the building the y placed in the following day. A 1 vSince the blocks are stackedrather than morbeemployed in most of the 'erecting -work of the building. The alined openings of the wall blocks provide for'ms into which the columns 2l and 25 are poured, and this work alsol may be accomplished with unskilled labor. Standard supporting boards vand posts forv supporting the roof tiles until the roof slab and rafters have been poured and hardened may be carried from job to employed" for 1 pouring the beams 2l obviously willbe ofthe simplest typel not requiringithe of skilled labor.

e,Joufthustarima-'reducing costs, The `forms necessaryjstructural strengthf'for supporting the roof structure or the second story of the building and they also'anchorzthe'bloclrs inproper position. ASuchanchorage is increased bythe provision of an'adequate stucco covering on the external'wall surface, and the ,resultant building meets all requirements as to structural strength while materially lowering the costs of both labor and material.

The use of the parapet Wallis preferred since:

this type of structure lends itself particularly well v to the present invention, although itlwill .be apparent that any roof structure may be employed.' In a buil o! the type illustrated, the roof slab is preferaby formed with a pitch of approximately one inch in ten feet downwardly toward a line across the,center of the building forming a shallow trough from which rain water readilyk .may be drained through a suitable downspout.

Accordingly it will be apparent that the present invention provides a class ofbuilding structureparticularly suited for'- dwellings land-wherein the building may be of any desired type of architecture. 'Ihe finished building accordingly can be made fully as attractive as buildings erected in accordance with conventional systems, while a dwelling of a given size may be completed far more cheaply thus 'opening a new eld of home purchase to people Vwho are unable to afford a house of the necessary size constructed in accordance with present methods. If desired, the

' terna] wall-of the building but may be used equal- V'ly well with an interior wall or with the roof structure as disclosed. Where the term "wall structure occurs in the claim without limitation,

,threfore,v it-is understood that this term is intended to include any structural unit of the building such as an exterior or interior wall, a parapet wall, or the roof structure. .It similarly will be ,apparent that the horizontal passages of the roof structure are not' limited in their application to such structure, but may be includedin the iioor structure of an upper story of the building. The term superstructure as employed in the claim, .accordingly is intendedto cover either a roof structure orfthefloor structure of an upper story 0i' Vthe building.

' ,It is to he understoodfshst the forms or the invention herewith shown and described are to be` takelnas preferred examples of the same and j'that various changes in the shape, size and ar- *rangementof parts may` be resorted to without vdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the f scope of the subjoined claim'. apparent that cheap labor may A vertical building wall structure formed of a plurality of superimposed directly contacting preformed blocks, the blocks of each row being staggered with relation to the blocks of the ad- `jacent rows, each block being substantially rectangular in horizontal section and provided with a pair of enclosed openings therethrough, the blocks of alternate rows being arranged in vertically alined series, and thev openings through the blocks of the respective rows being alined to form,

l a plurality' o fvertical passages, load/carrying; cernentitious` columns formed incertain of said vertical passages with their upper ends vterrni- :,nating substantially in'the plane-votr the upper v faces of the uppermost row of blocks, certain of said columns being spqced apart a'distanee greatr'er than the width of 'certain of sind vertical series of blocks whereby the blocks in the latterseries are 'maintained inposition solely-by engagement with adjacent blocks,'abeam extending over and SuPDOITted by the 1191x511" ends of said columns, r f' a superstructure supported byfsa'idbeam.'

Y MILTONYW, THOMPSON; w f 

